Carter’s Chatter

Andrew did not want to go to his end of the year competition, but he did. Once he arrived, he participated, as we knew he would. He won third place in form and second place in sparring. Then he was glad and we were proud.

 Excellence runs in the Gravely family. Gravely, who teaches Andrew, has a son Tony who is a two-time Virginia state championship wrestler in the 112 weight division. Last year he placed #14 in the nation. Read more about him (by clicking on the links below) in the February (page 11) and March editions of the Smoke Signals, Magna Vista’s school newspaper.

http://henryva.schoolwires.com/43562012775154680/lib/43562012775154680/_files/MVHS24148FEB.pdf

http://henryva.schoolwires.com/43562012775154680/lib/43562012775154680/_files/MVHS24148MAR.pdf

Andrew earned his first real money at the tire shop this winter when Noel took first my car and then his truck for tires. The man and Andrew established an  instant rapport and Andrew left $13 richer for helping.  He added it to a few dollars he had acquired from birthdays and saved his money for a bit. Then two weeks ago, he had to spend it. When we asked what he wanted, he didn’t seem to know at first — or he didnt’ tell — but just before going to the store, he announced he was buying a fishing pole.

What a great choice! For just under $20, he was purchasing something he could use over and over. Incidentally, $20 is all he had, so he learned about budgeting and purchasing wisely too. The pride he felt when he paid was evident when he told the cashier, “I’m paying for this, not grandma.”

He brought the pole home and assembled it himself. Every afternoon after school, he contemplated his lures and hooks (part of the pole package) and then he went to his mom’s, without the pole. This past weekend, he returned and we went on a first fishing trip. What a great time he had. It didn’t matter that he caught nothing. He learned to find a good fishing hole, bait his hook and cast. He also learned that soft voices and patience are important to fishing and that spending some time listening to the birds and watching bugs and butterflies is okay too. 

Is he going again? Most definitely!

(Check out the pictures on the First Fishing Trip page.)